Animal trap



1.. c; CRONBERGER 2,655,759

Oct. 20, 1953 ANIMAL TRAP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26. 1950 FIG. 6.

arm 4 MQZLQQLZB BY 2 I I Oct. 20, 1953 c. CRONBERGER 2,655,759

ANIMAL TRAP Filed June 26, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. IO.

' 1N VEN TOR. 1M A (rah any Oct 20, 1953 L. c. CRONBERGER ANIMAL TRAP 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 26, 1950.

INVENTOR LOTYA C. CRONBERGER M W ATTOR EY Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITEDSTATES ?ATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to animal traps in general, and more particularlymouse traps.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved animal trap of thekind wherein the animal to be trapped is induced to enter a receptacleadapted to be tilted from a substantially horizontal position to asubstantially vertical position under the action of the weight of theanimal moving therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap which is relativelyinsensitive against shock and vibrations and therefore does not tend tooperate unintentionally without an animal having entered into it, whichtrap, however, is extremely sensitive and rapidly operating due to atrigger action initiated by the weight of an animal that has enteredinto the trap.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a trap which enables oneto conveniently dispose of the trapped animal, which can readily becleaned and sterilized and which precludes any injury to the personsetting the trap, or to domestic animals.

There are two broad principles for the design of animal traps of thekind comprising a tubular receptacle to be tilted from a substantiallyhorizontal to a substantially vertical position under the weight of ananimal moving therein. The first design principle consists in using theweight of the animal for effecting a simple tilting motion of theanimal-trapping receptacle. Adoption of this design principle results ininexpensive, rugged traps which, however, are too insensitive, i. e.their tilting motion is too slow and not sumciently positive. The seconddesign principle consists in using the weight of the animal to unlatch asource of tilting power, such as a spring or weight, which source oftilting power quickly tilts the animal-trapping receptacle from asubstantially horizontal to a steeply inclined or substantially verticalposition, whereby the animal is trapped. Adoption of this designprinciple yields efiicient traps but is conducive to relativelyexpensive and complicated structures.

It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to provide an animaltrap which is predicated on an entirely new principle not subject to thelimitations inherent in the two aforementioned design principles.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be more fullyapparent from the particular description thereof, in conjunction withthe appended drawings which show, in preferred forms, several novelmechanisms of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 to 4 are side views, partly in vertical slction, of fourconsecutive positions of a mouse trap embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the center portion of thetrap according to Figs. 1 to 4 Fig. 6 is a transversal section along 66of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in vertical section, of a modification ofthe structure shown in Figs. 1 to 6;

Fig. 8 is a side view, partly in vertical section, of anothermodification of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 6;

Fig. 9 shows a portion of Fig. 8 on a larger scale;

Fig. 10 shows a detail of the holder and lid structure shown in Figs. 8and 9;

Fig. '11 shows partly in side view and partly in cross-section anotherembodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 12 is a cross-section along l2| 2 of Fig. 11.

As mentioned before, this invention refers to animal traps comprising atubular receptacle adapted to be tilted from a substantially horizontalposition to a substantially vertical position under the action of theweight of an animal moving therein. Acoording to the present inventionthe trap is provided with guiding means for the animal-trappingreceptacle for causing a composite motion thereof from saidsubstantially horizontal position to said substantially verticalposition. This composite motion consists of a tilting component andanother component for lowering the animal-trapping receptacle morerapidly than by said tilting component alone.

The drawings illus trate as preferred embodiments of the abovecompositemotion guiding means a pivotally mounted holder slidinglysupporting the animal-trapping receptacle. The trapping-efficiency ofthis particular embodiment of the invention is predicated upon theco-action of two factors: The animal-trapping receptacle begins to tiltat the instant its balance is upset by the animal moving therein. Thetilting motion of the receptacle in turn causes the receptacle to sliderelative to the holder in a direction longitudinally of the former and,because of that sliding motion, the receptacle is lowered much morerapidly than by its tilting motion alone. The rate at which thereceptacle is swung from a susbtantially horizontal to a substantiallyvertical position is so rapid that the animal has not the slightestchance to re-establish the 3 equilibrium and to escape out of thetrapping receptacle.

Fig. 1 shows a mouse trap comprising a tubular receptacle Isubstantially in the shape of a test tube. The receptacle I consists ofa polymerized plastic material having an extremely smooth externalsurface. The open end of the receptacle l is provided with a rim 2having a slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter of thereceptaclef, fie eptai 'Fis suiiportedlby a substantially aini'ular"metal holder 3 having a smooth internal surf-ace to minimize frictionbe tween said internal surface and the external sui' face of receptacleI. A clamp 4 is arranged vvith the open end thereof in the samedirection as the open end of receptacle I. resilient type and is shownas bging resiliently secured to a table-top 5 from'iirhrchbneendcif'receptacle i projects in cantilever "'fasliibni' Holder 3 is piovtallysupported at 6 by clamp 4 to permit pivotal movement thereoi relative tolamp. b ut of. otat oaar aneedtrane E!yWj'tf d PQQi t r eeptacle I ASbest Shown in i s, nnclfii heu pershanli Q.'.'..-. l ii upp rtsa u stntial mu-snap b a-etc? iwhieh prov desr ear n sia w, fort ehorizontallybent ends or trunnions 3a, 3b 0L3. h9 fi =.whish. whe ellimihr ine Greek letter 0. .1. ilsl si i n. i-.: hs trap hownin Fig... 13s fil u libsflr recept cle 1 endsmo tilt in.a counterclockwisedirection about the pivot, of olster .ahdi e iswithl ts im mponme taleeei lbeit e enleced siiacentthe losedend of the receptacle I. A mouse9 isxalluredby ai 1- q llil e o e? ntered the: a pin recepes eae Yet,

Fig. 2 shows theprouseem ying,within.recap: te le, 1.; T ,e .meiis .hesit. et reached thecritsal a ee ile.

Fig. 3 shows the position of the parts .of,. th.e feeeeqlmehemenseseitertheiattei: has nl yiiil-z wld-i e. ri i l pain lwheresrcepta a. s.p 3 9tel, i u pqrtede R eptac e! and e 2 eyebesat lteds mu tn ous y wer eeies 'ibis: e aimiiilen we ed win to i l eieeieeiiee ia a"see cgl neiiudinaiiy here.- flei ye. a. h ii r hi ual motion pse efieesus ceietk hic c deei e from jMQQlQ -bacl; to .the .pivot. poi1t.6.7.which Wilsisne tses era his eus eeieizk aused lfii e e hi h-1-.9l e in. i qeetee e-J does, not} only prevent the mouse v from mgv i ngs k refd ti nl is ieimtie f flo er a e. mo 011211. bfjthfelmouselre latiIto the receptacle. I.

' *rate Jet which; such a' iiiiihg motionwill alfbthei" conditionsemelmn nqh geaml 'j fi f h d 5f t e smtttiiiiees f th'ihternalsiii'ia'cejof the ecap; tieie IfReceptacl's of glass or ofa suitablepiy; irierized plasticiiiaterial are imost' effective iii pre'-' ventingthe'eiiiiiiai about "to be t apped irpm gaining "a foothold alo'fig'th'eintrnai'sui'iace oi the trappingiecptaclbfor aroppiiigto its bot tom. g.7. ,m v. Fig. 4:.shows the trapping receptacle 1 in a Ivirtuallyvvertical po'sitionso held byengagen e'nt of rim .2 .ami holder3..' These parts forrii'hoopcratin abutments. for supporting thereceptacle I i n..seb t tia11 vertical. position, whereby the 7Q.trapped aniz nal is, precluded frozn gettingoutwoi it...

7 e same. reim'ee es ens. as. in Figs. 1 to 6 ha b applied to jndicatelike parts. tqFisefienmarholde: 371s; pro:

Clamp! cr me and.. the .verticalsurface of said clamp.

vided with a counter-weight [0 which forms an integral part of theholder. Because of the effect of counter-weight ID a relatively shorterlength of trapping tube needs to rest to the left of the point aboutwhich receptacle I is adapted to be tilted. It will be apparent fromFig. 7 that in the embodiment of the invention shown in this figure thereceptacle I does not pivot about the pivot 6 ofthe holder 3. In thisembodiment of the memes. receptacle l and holder '3 are adapted to betilted about different horizontal axes when the initial equilibrium ofreceptacle 1 is upset by the animal intended to be trapped therein.Holder 3 then turns about pivot B andreceptacle I is then tilted aboutthe edge defined-Icy the upper shank 4a of clamp 4 Q'III any'tlapficcording to the present inventiod'which does not comprise acounter-weight the receptacle I ought to be arranged in such a wayem the sisabout whi h t a bete -ted is situated fairly close to ,thecenteroigrayity og h rece t cl h s i t h we r. 4% ea loset? he nit i e ye i e.we eem.- mnxd a 9 -a 1y v nt s ie is ni ial. uil r im, ondemn-iy. eme?eel jolt pr. br t ons-l w i h we t r aybe ib: ieci sl- Whe ee. u te w ht rm nee n integral part of holder '3;is use l to counter-1 al nce heeihed. the R ent en-test n boii ie he e e leisa a ted e e P113 5 ush gi ben -ted.be weeni esen a i rey: iiys iiha ecepiec l mii lia enie i rat nof theholden. V V the ,ernbodiinent of the invention shown. Figs BQto.1'O theIength i the trapping gti'fbe receptacle hasfb. d isip v av er; jH a; j e il q o e h ii e p ne g p thefvertical :po tion, thereof; 'Tlietrapping. r eede st eet amn s y wiser els e mete eateries fl i e ime alFig. 10 shows a piece of sheet metal -int en ded a. rm. a. eepte le oldef i r; ei mathsies r qu red. ori et u p se ui bei e: ein ent i i 1 siuird. z ub t til y nue la tshe e he wne s ihe. P1 9 0f 7 ee met reln p diid, w lis xte si ns H f rm pirqt r. unni ns on. be ns n ert d-in o u t: bebearilleholesin braeket 11 ei w s formed by the strip of sheet .inetalshown in Fi i-erei' ten ed. o. l ee i- 9Qi eer s o t the plaeeoithest pt9. fo m, abut e mea s on nser ion, he eonnto wo long ud l t .1 ith-Whhep tiqn o he e tacl wi en t J heo en. nd.: heneoi;1 rs de ine l m inoniunct on with l tst t e. mount L sl din mo ion. got. rec tacle 6lativeto old i hestrine hee me alshewni F 0 h rtherl r vmd with a. ai p ur edps da ted.e i rmgbe ines ineed v. sugnqrt p fi m sl i he. recep cl 1 i dtew as a. f. ppositee oiect ner xtensions l1 intQs i ta lQ .1es.;i ips.to-serve sz rnenig a a re s.ioiiihe 1:1,. a/t e os ge r sented: and.'hit 6 sho n i F s, 8 ed.= he,-ld en a e nd e ts l lJ l .B..-8Xeernal. lte elw i e eofi therec ptee I j-3:1 cent the open end thereof, Thepenteroigravity l ii eemee er r si ituei s erI o herie iehec mm nee sfifg bowhich r ce tac e! 1 99 1 9K 3 i aqa s qwbelt te egc ne ar. o cer ii rj thelco n eewei t Jormed i/s d: BT-i eiteeiesteiilie e tgf ex on.

; dently the lever arm of the relatively substantial.-

counter-weight l 6 is much shorter than the lever arm of the relativelylight receptacle I. At the instant the center of gravity of the animalto be trapped comes to lie to the right of a vertical plane through axis6, holder 3' and receptacle l are tilted in a clockwise direction aboutaxis 6' and simultaneously receptacle 1 slides in a directionlongitudinally thereof relative to holder 3 until restrained fromfurther sliding motion by engagement of the left upper ends of slots I3by bent lips [2. At the instant holder 3 is stopped by engagement of theabutment means l2, IS the left upper edge 20 Of holder 3 is situatedslightly beyond the edge I8 defining the entrance of receptacle I. Asreceptacle I is sliding from left to right in a downward direction, lidit loses the support heretofore given to it by the lateral wall ofreceptacle I. Therefore lid l 6 is free to pivot in a counterclockwisedirection about its pivotal support, [4. Lid I6 is provided with aslight bend at l9 which enables it to rest against the edge 20 of holder3' when receptacle i has reached its vertical position. Lid l6 thencloses firmly the top of the receptacle I, safely precluding the escapeof the animal which is trapped therein. The animal so caught is unharmedand kept out of sight of anyone if receptacle 1 is made of an opaquematerial. The animal can be disposed of without direct contact eitherwith it, or with any part of the trap that has been in contact with it.

The receptacle may be made of plasticimpregnated paper such as, forinstance, used for milk containers. A receptacle or" that kind may beadapted to be readily disposed of. This modification or the inventionpermits one to dispose together of the mouse and the receptacle in themost sanitary way, like garbage.

Using receptacles of paper permits one also to print instructionsdirectly on the outside of the receptacle, thus dispensing with thenecessity of adding a separate instruction sheet to the trap.

The plastic-impregnated paper receptacle i should preferably besufliciently tapered toward the closed end thereof to permit stacking ofa plurality of identical receptacles to limit storage and shippingspace. The taper may be such as to limit the sliding motion of thereceptacle relative to the holder 3, thus making it possible to dispensewith additional abutment means for that purpose. terial not intended forrepeated use and adapted to be readily disposed of, then it is desirableto ailix an unperishable poisonous bait inside of the receptacleadjacent the closed end thereof. The bait may, for instance, consist ofpoisoned grain 8 which is glued to the bottom of the trappingreceptacle, thus forming structurally a self-sustained ready-to-usebait-receptacle-unit which does not need to be supplied with bait by theuser of the trap, from which the bait cannot be lost, and wherein thepoisonous bait is inaccessible to any person or animal other than theone that is intended to .be trapped and killed.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate an embodiment of the invention comprising atapered trapping receptacle i made of plastic-impregnated paper.Receptacle I" may be stacked together with a number of identical taperedtrapping receptacles, as mentioned before. The bait 8' is permanentlyaifixed to the bottom of receptacle I" and accessible only to the animalto be trapped. It is of the poisonous unperishable type. The holder 3shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is in substance the same as that shown in Figs.5 and 6 including trunnions 3a, 3b supported in bearings If thereceptacle l' is made of a mabracket 1: Bracket 1 is in turn supportedby the upper shank 4a of clamp 4. Th dotted line in Fig. 11 indicatesthe tapered trapping receptacle I" in the tilted position thereof. Itwill be noted that the sliding motion of the receptacle i relative tothe holder 3 is limited on account of the strong taper of receptacle1''. Any desired increase of the sliding motion of the receptacl Irelative to the holder 3 may readily be achieved either by reducing thetaper of receptacle I" or by increasing the diameter of the holder 3. Itwill be noted from Fig. 11 that receptacle I" has also a rim 2". Thisrim is provided for reinforcing receptacle and for resting receptacle I"on table-top 5 rather than for limiting. the sliding motion ofreceptacle 1" relative to holder 3.

It will be understood that by illustrating several preferred embodimentsof my invention, I do not intend to limit my invention thereto. It willfurther be understood that while the arrangements described andillustrated herein are the preferred embodiments of my invention, thesame ,may take forms other than specifically shown and described herein.It will be apparent for those skilled in the art that various changesand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or from the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an animal trap a tubular receptacle adapted to be tilted from asubstantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical positionunder the action of the weight of an animal moving therein, a holderslidingly supporting said receptacle, and a support on which said holderis pivotally mounted.

2. In an animal trap a tubular receptacle adapted to be tilted from asubstantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical positionunder the action of the weight of an animal moving therein, a holderslidingly supporting said receptacle, and a clamp on which said holderis pivotally mounted.

3. In an animal trap a tubular receptacle adapted to be tilted from asubstantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical positionunder the action of the weight of an animal moving therein, a holderslidingly supporting said receptable, a support on which said holder ispive otally mounted and weight means supported by said holder forcounterrbalancing said receptacle when in said substantially horizontalposition th reof.

4. In an animal trap a tubular receptacle adapted to be tilted from asubstantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical positionunder the action of the weight of an animal moving therein, a holderslidingly supporting said receptacle, a support on which said holder ispivotally mounted and a lid for said receptacle hinged-,

1y supported on said holder.

5. In an animal trap a tubular receptacle adapted to be tilted from asubstantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical positionunder the action of the weight of an animal moving therein, a gravityoperated lid for closing said receptacle when in said substantiallyvertical position, a holder hingedly supporting said lid and slidinglysupporting said receptacle, and a clamp on which said holder ispivotally mounted.

6. An animal trap comprising a tubular animal receptacle normallysupported in equilibrium in a substantially horizontal position, asupport 7a, 1b of means on said support providing a tilting axis forQSMME said receptacle efiectice npom upsetting or the eqinlibriumthereof, and: holder means for.- receptacle permitting: av limited?sliding-c motion; of said receptacle in a direction longitudinallythereof saidholder mea-ns1inclnding: a lever piv ot'all ymounted; on.said support and abutment means adapted to cooperate; with saidreceptacle to; provide a, suspension .in.space ofi thezuppenrend atsaid: receptacle when; in 25 substantially vertie. cal position.

7. Am animal. trap comprising an tulmiananis mal receptacle: normallySupportedli'n; a. substamtia-lly horizantal position; i a substantially.annular holder for suspending. said receptacle in a: subs tantia ly'vertical position; saidi holder: loosely surrounding said receptacleand: pemnitting a limited longitudinal sliding motion thereofimeansionadapting said-holder 't'o form a counterweight: fan balancing:said receptacle in i said substantially: horizontal. position; and apivotal support for saidholder arranged-betweentliecenter of: gravity.of said: receptacle and the center of gravity ofsaid holder andproviding a common center ofrotation for saidreceptacle and'holderefi'ectivecuponupsetting of the equilibrium thereof.

8-; An animal trap= comprising a tubular receptac-lefor receiving theanimalito' be trapped; a support supporting said receptacle in asubstantially horizontal' position, said receptacle projecting incantilever-fashion from said supportand: being free to 1 slide. in alongitudinal direction relative-to saidsupport, a substantially-am nularholder for said receptacle pivotally mounted' on said support; saidreceptaclebeing loosely inserted intosaid holder to permit slidingthereof relative to saidiholder, and cooperating abutment means on saidreceptacle and on-'saidhoider for limitingslidingmotion of 'saidrecepta'cle relative to said, holder.

9;..An animal trap-comprising areceptacle open at one? endv: thereof andsubstantially closed' at the other end thereof; va lid hingedlysupported'ib'y aholdenslidinglysupportingssaid receptacle-said lid beingadapted to be held inianiopen position bycengagementtthereof withthe-lateral outer Wall oftsaidreceptacle,- v and: meansfor pivotally:sups portmg'said' holderitot initiate gravitational rela tive'slidmgmotion :betWeen said .holder and said receptacleitocauseithelateral outerwa'll thereof to move. outof engagement with said :lidttoeffect closing. by: said lid of i said receptacle 1!); Inzan animaltrap. aatubular'ireceptacle for the ;animal Lto; beatrapped; :meansfonsupporting said receptacle in a substantially horizonta'l equilibriumposition and ada'pted to? permit said --receptacletoibe tilted under.the action: of '.th=e weight of" an". animal moving. therein; guiding:means forsaidreceptaclecpermittingsaid'receptas cle to slide in adirection longitudinallythereof relative ;to said supporting" means, andabutment means :for limiting sliding movement of said re-@- ceptaclerelative to said supportingmeanss 11. .Ananimal -trap com-prising atubular receptacl having a daterall-y projecting rim at anopenzendth'ereo'f;iaasubstantiallyannular.aholder &

loosely surrounding receptacle and forming an abutment. cdoperating withsaid-i rim to limit sliding movements or? said. receptame relative tosaidi'holder,xandiaiclamp pivotally supporting; said holder.toipermittiltingiofi said holderrelativa t0. saidi clampabout an axisarranged transversely withi respecteto the: longitudinal: axis of saidres ceptaclezl 12 An: animal trap comprising a: tubular re: ceptaclesnbsta-ntiallyfiin the: shape of: a test tube and-\consisting 03'. a?polymerized plastic material having a smooth external surtaee; an:annular metaliholden loosely receiving; said receptaclaand having; asmooth internals surface for minimizing friction between said internal:surface and said extemalisurfacc; and a olam'p anranged with the openend: thereof in the: same direction as: the open:- end of saidreeeptacleand pivotally' sups porting; said holder: to: permit-pivotal movementthereof; relative r to said clamp' about an aids q arerang'e'dztransversely-with respect to said receptasv Q 8."

13; An inimalatrap aecordingto claim l where: innthe: tubular receptacleis made-tat least in part oil areadily disposable sulistance 'in thenature ef paper,

14' Ania-nimal trapiaccordingte claimi lwherein thextubulan receptacleiswniade of= plasticsimprege nated-paper and an unperishable poisonousbait isaaffixedato the inside of saidreceptaclel ad acent the closedendithereofi.

15.- An animal-trapaccording toclaimlwherein the tubular receptacle is;made substa-ntially of plastics-impregnated paperand adapted to bereadily disposedef and wherein said receptacle istaperedtowardtheolosedendtherleof to permit stacking: of a plurality of' identicalreceptacles;

16. In an animal trap a; tubular: receptacle adapted to be: tilted:from: a substantially horizontal equilibrium position to a substantiallyvertical :equ Hbrium'pQSition .under the action of thmeight-oftheianimal moving-wherein, .a holder loosely surroundings-saidreceptacle-topermitslidi s movement of said receptacle" in a directionlqn itl d najlly thereof:with regard tfo said holder;

' meansin theinaturenfcgoperatingtabutments on position m. said:substantially vertical equilibrium ;p.0siti. m.'

CRON BERGER."

.lfieterences flitsd fi e a thisqpatent UN STAI ES -PATENTS

